Gun loading device



March 21, 1939. c. WANINGER GUN LOADING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1937 5 SheetsSheet 1 [72 V672 for:

5 Car? Wzvufiyex y Zhy7 JR Q Q & Q E Q Q fi March 21, 1939. Q WANINGER 2,151,288

GUN LOADING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a I I Q w [71 1/672 for;

Cal? Waru njeh March 21, 1939.

C. WANINGER GUN LOADING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Invewfon- Car Warzhzger March 21, 1939. c, wANlNGER 2,151,288

GUN LOADING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q I77 [/63 72 for:

March 21, 1939. c. WANINGER GUN LOADING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q Q Q Q Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUN LOADING DEVICE Application May 1, 1937, Serial No. 140,227 In Germany September 12, 1930 8 Claims.

The ammunition of guns of the smaller calibres has hitherto always been introduced and advanced into the barrel chamber by hand; in the case of heavy ordnance mechanical loading devices including rammers are used, and these devices which are arranged behind the gun permit the latter to be loaded only when the barrel is in a particular loading position. These devices generally operate in the same manner as do the cartridge loading devices usually employed in automatic small arms, machine guns, and also automatic guns, and a rammer, adapted to be displaced in the direction of the bore of the barrel, engages behind the ammunition placed on a fixed guide and, moving forward, thrusts it into the barrel chamber. There have also already been provided movable charging carriers and among them have been belt feeding devices having an endless band which carry the ammunition resting thereon briskly to the loading aperture of the barrel, and in consequence of the kinetic energy thus imparted to it the ammunition is caused to slide forward into the chamber in the desired position.

The loading device according to the invention, however, is carried on the gun barrel and is accommodated in the loading aperture itself.

The device comprises one or more rollers which are arranged in an extension of the barrel bore and, on being rotated, to seize any ammunition introduced to the breech and thrust it past them forward into the chamber.

The new ammunition loader is suitable for guns of widely different kinds and calibres and may be applied to all guns, without the projecting parts of the loader getting in the way during laying, firing or otherwise handling, in which the ammunition was formerly thrust into the chamber only by hand. The new loader is capable of operating at any degree of elevation of the barrel and is, therefore, particularly advantageous, from the point of view of ease and speed, for anti-aircraft guns. Moreover, it permits the height of the pivoting or trunnion axis to be reduced as, by its use, even in the case of high angle fire, the free space behind the base of the barrel need no longer be as long as the full length of a new charge, as the latter can be inserted laterally into the breech loading opening.

The loading device may be provided with one or with a number of rollers, all or only some of which are rotated by hand or by means of a mechanical drive to serve as driving rollers. The rollers are preferably arranged in pairs between which the ammunition is supported and when being thrust forward so that a sliding friction between the ammunition and the barrel is avoided as much as posm'ble. In order to make allowance for the varying diameter of the ammuni- 5 tion (projectile, cartridge case) over its length, at least one part of the roller system is arranged to be displaceable transversely to the axis of the bore, and to bear resiliently against the sides of the ammunition when it is introduced into the i0 breech. The rollers may be in themselves elastic, for example be made of rubber,'and, in order to increase the driving force exerted on the ammunition to be loaded, maybe provided on their periphery with suckers or other means for inlid creasing adhesion and friction.

In order that the ejection of spent cartridge cases may not be. impeded, the rollers are arranged so that they can be moved out of their operative position into a "ready position in 20 which their outer surfaces are out of the path of the ejected case. The outward movement of the rollers takes place after the ammunition has been inserted into the barrel chamber, its subsequent return to the operative position occurring as soon 25 as the spent cartridge case has been ejected, preferably automatically, by means of a mechanical force controlled by a feeling device.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view 30 partly in section of the end of the gun barrel and a cartridge,

Figs. 2 to 4 are perspective views of the cartridge and rollers,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a roller, and

Figs. 6 to 10 are longitudinal sectional views illustrating the operation of the loading device.

Fig. 1 illustrates the underlying principle of the loading. device, it being shown on a gun barrel it having a laterally movable wedge acting breech 40 block b. In the loading trough b of the breech block there are mounted two rollers c1 and ca which are adapted to rotate about axes disposed at right angles to the bore of the barrel and which are set in rotation by a suitable driving 45 device (not shown), the mounting being such that, when the breech is open, the rollers grip a cartridge inserted in the charging trough which now forms an extension of the bore, from two opposite sides, and, by friction, thrust the cartridge 50 forward into the chamber (11 of the barrel.

The rollers 01 and 02 shown in Fig. 2 are mounted so as to rotate about vertical axes. Their profile is preferably complementary to that of the cartridge at its mean diameter. Of the hori- 55 zontal pair of rollers shown in Fig. 3 whose arrangement corresponds to that shown in Fig. 1, the lower roller 02 is considered as mounted on the breech block, while the second, upper roller, is a displaceable pressure and driving roller.

It is subdivided into two side rollers, mounted on a common shaft, between which a driving member may be arranged by its middle portion being cut away.

According to Fig. 4, two upper rollers 01, dis posed obliquely with respect to each other, press the cartridges between'them and against a fixed lower roller. As shown in Fig. 5, the peripheral surface of the rollers may be provided with suckers or other recesses or projections which increase the adhesion of the rollers to the ammunition which is moved by them.

Figs. 6-10 show a typical form of construction of the new loading device in various positions dur ing the loading operation and while firing, on a gun of the recoil operated typchaving a laterally movable wedge loading device operates automatically, being set in rotation by mechanical means, and are moreover moved out of the operative position and also returned into the operative position at the appropriate moment by means of a mechanical drive controlled by a feeling device.

Fig. 6 shows the gun barrel a, longitudinally slidable in a cradle e, ready for loading, its breech block b being held in the open position by an ejector j in known manner against the influence of an automatic closing device not shown in the drawings. The arrangement and construction of the rollers of the charging device correspond fundamentally to that illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3. The two-part driving roller 01 is adapted to rotate about the axle ca mounted in a frame g adapted to be displaced in the wedge shaped aperture of the base member of the barrel; the non-driven counter roller 02 islocated opposite it in the bottom of the charging trough in of the breech block b. The roller 01 and the frame 9 are pivotally suspended on one arm of a bell crank lever h at the point C6 by means of a hollow bar as containing the roller driving shaft together with a bevel-pinion transmission device, said bell crank lever being mounted on a pivot hi mounted on the top on the base member of. the barrel. The bell crank lever, by the articulated connection of its second arm at the point ha, is, with a resilient energy-accumulator i articulated to the cradle e at i1 and which is hereinafter described in detail, swung in one or the other di rection of rotation. What is, in effect, a continuation of the roller-driving shaft 04, is provided by a bevel pinion mechanism 01 and a telescopically extensible shaft ca, the latter being driven, by way of a worm gearing, by a. motor is fixed to the cradle e.

The energy-accumulator i inserted between the bell crank lever h and the cradle 6 comprises a rod is articulated to the cradle at i1 and on this rod, between two annular abutments is, 2'4, and adapted to be displaced on it, is a pre-stressed spring is which is enclosed by a casing is which engages over the abutments i3, i4. On the casing its-with the interposition of a further prestressed spring ia-there is displaceably arranged a second casing it which is pivotally connected with the bell crank lever h at 71.2. A spring loaded latch is, controlled by a projection ha of the bell crank lever h is adapted to lock the casings is, i1 thus preventing them from being thrust back one in the other, by engaging behind the shoulder action breech block. The its rollers 1'10 of the casing is, the springs i5, is then being tensioned and thereby--the spring is being inoperative-to cause the spring is to act directly on the lever h.

The outer spring is of the energy-accumulator 1' acts as a disengaging device whenthe bell-crank lever h is turned anti-clockwise when it causes the driving roller 01 to be raised from the position shown in Fig. 6, while the inner spring 2's serves as an engaging device, as it tends to lower the raised roller c1 when the lever h is turned clockwise. The'strength of the two springs i5, is is so relatedand they are brought into such mutual relation that when the energy-accumulator i is extended first of all the weaker, outer spring is is fully stressedand the casing is thrust into the casing i1, before the inner spring is is stressed beyond the initial stress already imparted to it.

In order that the springs is and is of the en ergy-accumulator i operate correctly and, therefore, the disengagement and engagement of the driving roller e1 may be initiated automatically at the right moment, a locking device is provided in the wedge shaped aperture of the base member of the barrel. This is controlled automaticaliy by a feeling device which touches the ammunition introduced into the chamber 111 of the barrel. Moreover, on the bar connecting the driving roller c; with the bell crank lever there is mounted a cylinder 1 which is adapted to be displaced against the action of a pre-stressed spring Z2 located between two relatively displaceable annular abutments l1, 12. One (ml) of two springurged catches mi, 1112, pivotally mounted in the base member of the barrel is adapted to engage behind the lower, and the other catch behind the upper face of the cylinder Z and thus, in turn and at the appropriate moment, counteract the influence of the energy-accumulator i and prevent the roller (:1 from disengaging or engaging. In order to ensure satisfactory operation of the locking device, the spring Z: is pro-stressed so strongly that its natural tendency even exceeds the action by the springs is and is of the energyaccumulator i to raise and lower the roller 01. The catches m1 and m: are swung by means of a lever m: which is actuated by two projections m and m of a displaceable feeling bar n, which under the influence of a spring projects its lower end into the mouth of the chamber a1.

In the following description of the mode of op eration it will be supposed that the parts are initially in the position illustrated in Fig. 6. The gun barrel is now ready for loading, with the breech open. The driving roller 01 set in rotation by the motor k, is in its operative position, into which it has moved from above, and lies within the prolongation of the chamber m. The spring is of the energy-accumulator 1 tends to raise the roller 01, but is, however, prevented from doing so by the catch m2 which engages behind the cylinder Z.

A cartridge d now inserted with the point of the projectile in the loading aperture of the gun barrel and between the two rollers 01 and 02 is, as shown in Fig. 6, drawn by the force of the driving roller 01 which bears against its casing between the rollers and into the chamber an. In accordance with the diameter of the cartridge which increases in size from the point to the base, the roller cr is raised somewhat, the spring 13 being tensioned. When the cartridge (1 has run through the rollers c1, c2 and has assumed its final position in the barrel the rim of the car-- tridge case lifts the feeler-bar n to such an extent that its projection m, by way of the lever ma, lifts the catch m2 out of engagement with the cylinder 1. The outer spring is of the energyaccumulator i now becomes eifective and extends,

swinging the lever h, to draw the roller 01 together with the guide frame a, locking the cylinder 1 and the shaft 04 upwards, as shown in Fig. 8, until an abutment h4 on the lever h stops further movement.

Thus the roller 01 and its supporting and guiding members are thrust upwards in the wedgeshaped aperture to such an extent that the breech block is released by the rim of the cartridge d from the ejector fwhich has meantime been holding it, and can assume its firing position.

The gun is now ready for firing. On the recoil of the barrel which takes plac after a shot is fired, first of all the outer spring i of the energy-accumulator i is loaded. Its spring-loaded catch 2'9 springs into position behind the shoulder 1'10 of the casing is and, acting as a fixed abutment as shown in Fig. 9 when the barrel recoils, loads the inner spring is. Now the energy-accumulator 2' has reversed its action on the roller 01; it tends to lower it again, but this is first of all prevented by the guide-frame 9 bearing against the breech block b which is still closed.

When the breech is opened and thrust downwards, under the pressure of the spring 15, the roller c1 follows this movement until the catch on engages under the lower face of the cylinder 1 and holds it fast. Then, as seen in Fig. 10, the roller or still remains above the path of the cartridge case :2 just withdrawn by the ejector j and thrown backwards. As at the same time the breech block b and with it also the counterroller 02 mounted therein is temporarily lowered in known manner somewhat beyond the normal open position, the cartridge case is ejected without in any way coming into contact with parts of the loading device or being hindered by it. When the mouth of the ejected cartridge case has passed under the feeler bar 11, under the influence of its spring the latter flies downwards and thereby, by carrying along the lever m; by means of its upper projection n2, disengages the lower catch in] from the cylinder 1. The released driving roller ear is now moved by the spring is of the energy accumulator 2' completely into its operative position and at the same time, by means of the projection ha of the bell crank lever h, the catch is is pressed from behind the shoulder 1'10 of the casing is.

The energy-accumulator z reverses its action automatically.

Its outer spring is tends to raise the roller 01 again, but this, however, is prevented by the catch me which has now come into position behind the upper face of the cylinder L. The parts now assume the position shown in Fig. 6 and the gun is again ready for loading.

If it is desired to use separate projectiles and cartridges for charging with a charging device of this type, there is placed behind the projectile a ramrod of suitable shape, which is also driven forward by the rollers into the chamber and after the projectile has been placed in position is withdrawn automatically'by the rollers, whose direction of rotation has been temporarily reversed by a switch controlled by the feeler bar 71..

I claim:

1. Mechanism for entering cartridges in the breech chamber of a gun comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in the breech around the axis of the gun barrel with their axes of rotation transverse to the said gun axes, means for rotating the rollers, means for moving the rollers translationally away from and towards the cartridge, and spring means for pressing at least one of the rollers against the cartridge to be entered.

2. Mechanism for entering cartridges in the breech chamber of a gun comprising a plurality or rollers arranged in the breech with their axes of rotation transverse to the axis of the gun barrel, a motor mounted on a non-recoiling part of the gun, driving connections between the motor and the rollers including an extensible shaft, means for rotating the rollers, means for moving the rollers translationally away from and towards the cartridge, and spring means for pressing at least one of the rollers against the cartridge to be entered.

3. Mechanism for entering the cartridges in the breech chamber of a gun comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in the breech with their axes of rotation transverse to the axis of the gun barrel, driving means for at least one of the rollers, a lever mounted on the gun one arm of which lever carries at least one of the rollers, an energy accumulator device connected to another arm of said lever, means connecting said accumulator device to a non-recoiling part of the gun, and spring means for pressing at least one of the rollers against the cartridge to be entered.

4. Mechanism for entering cartridges in the breech chamber of a gun of the kind having a breech block slidable in said chamber transversely to the gun barrel, comprising a plurality of rollers mounted in the breech of the gun with their axes of rotation transverse to the axis of the gun barrel, driving means for at least one of the rollers, means on said breech block for moving at least one of the rollers towards and away from the barrel axis along with the movements of said breech block, and spring means for pressing at least one of the rollers against the cartridge to be entered.

5. Mechanism for entering cartridges in the breech chamber of a gun of the type having a breech block slidable in said chamber transversely to the gun barrel, comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in an opening in the breech with their axes of rotation transverse to the axis of the gun barrel, drive means for at least one of the rollers, an energy accumulator device cooperating With said slidable breech block and at least one of the rollers, a housing for the roller drive means disposed in said opening, pawls cooperating with said housing respectively to hold the rollers in working position against the cartridge and in a ready position retracted therefrom, a feeler lever controlling the pawls and operated by the cartridge being entered, and spring means for pressing at least one of the rollers against the cartridge to be entered.

6. Mechanism for entering cartridges in the breech chamber of a gun of the type having a breech block slidable in said chamber transversely to the gun barrel, comprising a plurality of rollers arranged with their axes of rotation transverse to the axis of the gun barrel, drive means for at least one of the rollers, means for moving at least one of the rollers transversely to the axis of the gun barrel, a housing for said roller drive and moving means, pawls co-operating with said housing respectively to hold the rollers in operative position against the cartridge and in a ready position retracted therefrom, a

feeler lever controlling the pawls and operated by the cartridge being entered, a spring mounted in the housing, and a guide member slidably mounted in said housing, said guide member being connected to the rollers and slidable in the housing against the pressure of the spring.

7. Mechanism for entering cartridges in the breech chamber of a gun of the type having a breech block slidable in said chamber transversely to the gun barrel, comprising a plurality of rollers mounted in an opening in the breech of the gun on axes transverse to the axis of the gun barrel, at least one of said rollers being mounted on the breech block, a motor mounted on a non-recoiling part of the gun, driving connections between the motor and the rollers, said connections including an extensible shaft, 9. twoarmed lever on the gun having one arm con nected to at least one of said rollers, an energy accumulator device connected to the other arm of said lever, means connecting said accumulator device to a non-recoiling part of the gun, a housing for the drive means disposed in said opening, pawls co-operating with said housing respectively to hold the rollers in working position against the cartridge and in a ready position retracted therefrom, a feeler lever controlling said pawls and operated by the cartridge being entered, a spring mounted in said housing, and a guide member connected to at least one of amines said rollers and slidable against the pressure of the spring of the housing.

8. Mechanism for entering cartridges in the breech chamber of .a gun of the type having a breech block slidable in said chamber transversely to the gun barrel, comprising at least one pair of rollers arranged in an opening in the gun breech with their axes of rotation transverse to the axis of the gun barrel, a roller mounted on said breech block and co-operating with the first mentioned rollers, a motor mounted on a non-recoiling part of the gun for driving at least one of said rollers, driving connections between said motor and said rollers having an extensible shaft, an energy accumulator device arranged to move at least one of the rollers transversely to the barrel axis of the gun, means for connecting said accumulator device to a non-recoiling part of the gun, pawls for controlling the action of said energy device on the rollers, a housing for the drive means, said housing supporting said roller pair in said opening, means for respectively maintaining the housing with the rollers in working position against the cartridge and in a ready position retracted therefrom, a feeler member controlling said pawls and operated by the cartridge, a spring mounted in said housing, and a guide member connected to at least one of said rollers and slidable in the housing against the spring.

.CARL WANINGER. 

